Attachment for skis



April 13, 1943. G. L KARLssN ATTACHMENT FOR SKIS Filed April 2s, V1943.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 13, 1943 @UNITED vs'rirrs PATENT `OFFICE George L. Karlsson1eekskill, N. Y., assigner of one-half to Irmgard Schultze, New York, N. Y.

Application April 23, 1941,1Serial No. 389,982

, 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment for skis, by means of which the skier is assisted in climbing a slope by preventing backward movement of the skis. n

vvGenerally described my attachment includes a blade, means to mount the blade upon a ski for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal axis disposed transversely of ski, whereby the blade may swing forwardly and downwardly to a vertical position extending downwardly below the undersurface of the ski and projecting `into the snow, means to `limit the forward and downward swinging `movement ofthe blade to such vertical position whereby the blade is made rigid against backward movement of the ski, yieldable means for swinging the blade forwardly and downwardly to such `vertical position so that the blade will not materially interfere withfthe forward movement of the ski, and means to releasably retain the blade in a rearwardly and upwardly swung substantially horizontal inoperative position.

The primary object of the present invention is 1 to provide a ski attachment of the above charac- 'ter which is extremely simple and durable in construction, highly efficient in operation, and otherwise well adapted to meet with the requirements for a successful commercial use.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combinationand arrangement of parts illustrated and described.

ln the drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a ski provided with an attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention, the blades of the attachment being in its forwardly and downwardly swung vertical operative position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the blades of the attachment in raised inoperative position. f

Figure 3is a view of the construction shown in Figure 2, partly in top plan and partly broken away in section.

Figure i is a transverse section on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a modified form `of the invention applied to a ski. l

'Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 5, drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure 7 is a section on line 'I-'I of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure `6; and

l 'Figure 9 is an elevational view of a modified form of blade which may be employed in lieuof the blade shownl inFigures 5 to 8 inclusive.

(Cl. ZBO-41.13)

y Referring in detail to the drawings, the attachment of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive is applied to a ski 5 having theusual `foot rest 6 and footsecuring means 'I indicated by dotted lines. TheA attachment of this form consists of a base plate 8 having spaced transversely aligned bearings 9 rigidly provided thereon and adapted to be securely fastened upon the upper surface of the ski 5 by means of screws I0 or the like. The base plate 8 extends the full width of the ski and the bearings 9 are positioned at opposite side edges of the ski as shown clearly by Figures 3 and Ll. Each bearing 9 has a bore receiving a. transverse horizontal shaft II so that the latteris rotatably mounted in the bearings 9 with its reduced ends I2 projecting at opposite sides of the ski 5. Suitably secured at corresponding ends on the reduced projecting ends I2 of shaft II are blades I3, and encircling the intermediate portion of shaft II between the bearings 9 is a helical spring Iii, one end of which is attached to shaft II as at I5 and the other end of which bears against the base plate 8 as at I6. This spring I4 is comparatively weak as it is only intended to rotate shaft II for a short distance so as to position the blades I3 in their `forwardly and downwardly swung vertical position as shown in Figure l, while offering little resistance to rearward and upward `swinging movement of said blades to the horizontal inoperative position of Figures 2 and 3. Means is provided for limiting the forward and downward swinging movement of blades I3 to the vertical position of Figure 1, which means consists of a lateral lug or rib I'I on shaft II working in an arcuate groove I8 provided in a bearing 9 outwardly of its bore which receives the shaft I. When the shaft II is turned to a position wherein the blades I3 extend downwardly in a vertical position as in Figure 1, the lug or rib II- engages one side of the groove I8 so as to make the blades rigid against backward movement of the ski. In order to releasably retain the blades I3 in an elevated substantially horizontal inoperative position as in Figures 2 and 3, suitable spring catches I9 are attached to the base plate 8 at opposite sides of the latter in position to engage the adjacent inner edge portions of blades I3. By snapping the blades I3 into engagement with these catches I9, they will be retained in the elevated inoperative position shown in Figures 2 and 3. 'At the same time, manual force may be applied so as to swing the blades I3 downwardly out of engagement with the catches I9, whereupon springs I4 will swing the blades I3 further forwardly and downwardly to the operative position of Figure l.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 to 8 inclusive,4 the transverse horizontal shaft IIa is journalled in a bearing `9a carried'by a base plate 8a, the shaft Ila having a radial lug or rib I'Ia Working in an arcuate groove I8a to limit rotation of the shaft lla and swinging movement of the blade Ita fixed thereon. In this embodiment, the shaft Ila merely extends beyond one `side of the ski 5a, and only one blade I3a is ly to a vertical operative position as4 shown in` Figure 7. When in this position, the lug or rib Ila engages one side of the groove la as in Figure 8 so that the blade I3a is made rigid against backward movement of the skiconstruction in this embodiment provides for mounting the base plate 8.a upon theski 5a for sliding movement transverselyv of the latter. Accordingly, the base plate 8a is` slidably disposed upon a thin metal plate fastened by screws. 2l or the like upon the ski 5a and having angular guideways 22 fastened thereon Vby screws 23 or the like. The guideways 22a receive the opposite edges of base plate 8a so as to slidably guide the latter transversely of the ski. The plate 2D provides 4a suitable metal bearing surface fory the base plate 8a so that its transverse sliding movement is promoted. The purpose of slidably mounting the base plate 8a on the ski is to permit the latter to be moved to a position shown by dotted lines in Figure 6 wherein the blade i3d is disposed above one side of the ski. 5a when in rearwardly and upwardly swung horizontally inoperative position. Thus the blade l3a will engage the upper surface of the ski and Will thereby be held in this inoperative position. To rlease the blade, it is simply necessary to slide the base plate Ea transversely of the ski to a position adjacent one side of the latter so that the blade i3d is positioned beyond the adjacent side edge of the ski. Spring Ma will then swing the blade ita forwardly and downwardly to its vertical operative position. Means is provided to releasably retain the base plate- 8a in either of its two transversely adjusted positions, which means includes a spring-projected bolt 24 carried by the bearing 9a of base plate, Sa and adapted to be `selectively engaged in either one of two sockets provided in one of the guideways 22.

In other words, when the base plate 8a is slid to one side of the ski so as to release the blade 13a and permit it to swing downwardly to vertical operative position, the latch bolt 24 will engage in one socket 25, while when the base plate 3a is slid transversely of the ski to a position near the opposite side of the latter', `said latch bolt 24 will engage in the other socket 25 to retain the base plate 8a in the position wherein the blade i3d is maintained in a position over the ski.

It will be understood that the invention is susceptible to many minor changes and modifications. For instance, it is obvious that only one blade need be provided in the form of Figure l, in which case the shaft ll will have only one projecting end. In that event, as with the form of attachment shown in Figure 5, it may be found desirable to 'utilize a blad-e of variable width. Such a blade is illustrated in Figure 9 including a main section I3b having a top attaching hub 25' to receive the shaft on which the blade is mounted, and a foldable blade section hinged as at 2l to the outer side edge of section I-3o. By this construction, the blade may be collapsed by simply folding the section |30- onto the sec- A spring 14a is associated with the inner TheI 'indicated by dotted lines in Figure 5.

tion |3b and suitably retaining it in this folded position. On the other hand, the blade may be extended to double width by simply unfolding the blade I3c relative to the section I3b, and then securing the blader section ISC in unfolded position by anyy suitable means. As shown in Figure 9, this means may include a pin 28 extended through transversely aligned eyes 29 on the blade sections I3b and I3c, said pin 28 being suitably retained in the eyes. It will further be understood that the present attachment may be employedV in front of the foot rest and foot-securing means of the ski or both at the front and back thereof, the latter possible position being This is mere duplication and may be obviously practiced when desired.`

In ascending a steep slope, the skier releases the blade or blades so that it or they are swung forwardly and downwardly to a vertical position projecting belowv the under'surface of the ski. In this position, the blade or blades provide flxed brakes,l to prevent backward movement of the ski, although readily yieldable rearwardly and upwardly so as to not interfere materially with forward movement of the ski. When the slope has been ascended, and use of the attachment is no longer required, the blade or blades may be swung rearwardly and upwardly to horizontal inoperative position and retained in that position either by engagement with latches i9 or by positioningv the blade over the ski as shown by dotted lines iny Figurey 6.

What I claim as new is:

1. A ski attachment comprising a base plate having a transverse bearing, a shaft journalled in said bearing and having a projecting end, a blade secured ony said projecting end of the shaft, a` spring for rotating the shaft so as to swing the bladey downwardly and forwardly to an opl erative vertical position, means to limit rotation of said shaft to a position Ywherein the blade is in its forwardly and downwardly swung operative position, and transverse guideways adapt-ed to be mounted. upon a ski, said base plate being` slidable in said guideways so as to position the blade over the ski when said blade is swung upwardly and rearwardly to a substantially horizontal inoperative position, whereby said blade may be retained in said inoperative position upon the ski.

2. A ski attachment comprising a base plate having a transverse bearing, a shaft journalled in said bearing and having a prcjectingfend, a blade secured on said projecting end of the shaft, a spring for rotating the shaft so as to swing the blade downwardly and forwardly to an operative position upon the ski, and releasable spring in-4 fluenced means carried by said base plate and engageable in either of the keeper sockets for latching the base plate in either of two transversely adjusted positions relative to the guide- Ways SQ as t0 position the blade beyond one side of the ski or over the latter. 

